Rangers Women boss Leanne Crichton applauded her side’s professionalism and second-half response after an 8–0 victory over Renfrew Ladies at Broadwood secured their place in the next round of the Scottish Cup.
Despite the emphatic scoreline, Crichton admitted the opening 45 minutes fell short of the standards she expects.
Crichton explained that returning from the international break had disrupted preparation, with the squad barely managing a full session together ahead of the tie.
“It’s always a bit disjointed when players are just filtering back in,” she said.
“We didn’t quite move the ball with the sharpness or control we usually aim for.
“Even though we had a cushion, it wasn’t at the level we want to be at.”
What followed after the interval, however, was far more recognisable from her team.
“The second half was much more like us,” Crichton said.
“There was purpose, better tempo, and far more quality in the final third. The rhythm returned - we were patient, we kept possession, and we picked the right moments to attack.”
Crichton was especially pleased with the impact of the younger players introduced from the academy setup.
“Saoirse [Coyle-Morrow] and Phoebe [Connolly-Jackson] came in and did brilliantly,” she said.
“They’re hungry, they’re fearless, and they’re adding something to the group.
“As a staff, seeing young players take their chance like that is hugely rewarding.”
Reflecting on the chances created, Crichton noted that Rangers could have added several more goals despite Renfrew’s disciplined resilience.
“Credit to them - they defended their box with real commitment,” she added.
“We had to earn our goals with some real moments of quality.”
One of the standout performers was Eilidh Austin, who thrived in a more advanced role before later moving deeper.
Crichton was thrilled to see the midfielder claim her first Rangers hat-trick.
“She’s been excellent all season,” Crichton said.
“Eilidh listens, she works, she carries out instructions, and her contributions have been growing in every area.
“We wanted to challenge her in the final third today - refine that decision-making, get her into dangerous positions and she did exactly that.
“In the second half we asked her to drop a bit deeper, and she handled that just as well."
Crichton praised Austin’s blend of athleticism and timing, describing her as “a real handful when she hits full stride”.
“Seeing her enjoy moments like a first hat-trick is what it’s all about," she added.
“Those are the kind of days you want players to remember.”
With the Cup objective achieved and momentum intact, Crichton said the team will quickly turn focus to the next challenge in the league against Glasgow rivals Partick Thistle on Sunday.